Possession: Kerasukan is an upcoming Indonesian psychological horror-thriller film that is set to release in 2024. The work of director Razka Robby Ertanto, the film is a reimagining of Andrzej Żuławski’s cult classic 1981 film Possession. Emotional breakdown, possession, and supernatural horror are core themes of the film, and Ertanto has adapted them into an Indonesian cultural and spiritual context. Falcon Black Pictures produced the film, which premiered on May 8, 2024 in Indonesia, along with screenings at the South Korean Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival.
Plot Summary
A Shattered Reunion
The film opens with Faris, an Indonesian soldier who is attempting to return home after a long period of service. Much to his surprise, he is no longer welcomed back to a warm household. Instead, he is blindsided by his wife Ratna revealing that she wants a divorce. Ratna’s stunning announcement leaves Faris reeling, struggling to make sense of ‘what went wrong’ in their marriage.
Faris’s initial assumptions center around infidelity or mental instability, but days turn into weeks and his wife’s behavior becomes noticeably more bizarre. Faris faces a mixture of aggression and complete disassociation during his attempts to resolve the fracture in their relationship, while his wife continues to act more and more hostile.
Something Is Not Right
Faris has increasingly become aware of unsettling changes withing the household as family tensions grow. Doors close on their own, Ratna has extreme shifts in her temper, and Budi, their young son no longer interacts with others. The distinction between psychological breakdown and paranormal activity starts to fade.
Friends and neighbors were the first source of help that came to Faris’s mind. Through them, he gets referred to Toni, a local man who has knowledge about the spiritual world. From the start, he seems to believe that Ratna is possibly being afflicted by evil forces. He mentions the possibility of the involvement of pocong, an Indonesian ghost, which seems to be the spirit causing her possessed state and the darkness accumulating in their home.
The Smoke Behind the Fire
Exploring deeper, Faris finds out that Ratna had been seeing Mita, a reclusive woman in the neighborhood known for her spiritual beliefs. Confronting Mita, Faris learns from her that Ratna might have participated in rituals aimed to ‘unbind some burdens of the soul’ but with detrimental outcomes. Mita warns that Ratna is now a host to something she cannot overpower.
In tandem with ongoing inquiries, Faris’s mental health begins to deteriorate, leading him to experience both hallucinations and nightmares. With each passing day, Faris questions whether he is slowly going insane, or if the house itself is cursed. A spiritual battle in which he is utterly outmatched and far beyond insightful comprehension ensnares him as he continues to uncover more secrets.
Possession and Descent
In the terrifying episode of the dominion of the entity, Ratna assaults their son, and as a result, Faris finally must confront the truth of her possession. Faris, now fully cognizant of his inability to solve the situation with standard methods, intervenes and saves Budi.
Through both Toni and other community members, Faris is able to fashion a ceremony of spiritual purification, which leads to a climactic exorcism where Ratna’s body will writhe, her voice shift into higher octaves, and dark phantoms will seem to blossom in their dwelling.
While this approach seems to work, it is revealed that Faris suffers from both emotional and physical pain afterwards. In addition, Budi is traumatized in the process. Lastly, while Ratna physically lives, she is trapped within a catatonic state. They leave the audience wondering whether the spirit was expelled or simply went latent.
Darius Sinathrya as Faris, the soldier-turned-husband living through a haunting in his very own home is supported by a cast of characters.
Carissa Perusset portrays Ratna, the wife possessed by a spirit whose metamorphosis becomes the focal horror of the film.
Sara Fajira takes on the role of Mita, the spiritual woman who possesses knowledge beyond her guarded revelations.
Arswendy Bening Swara as Toni, the neighbor who passes for a local supernatural informant.
Nugie as Wahyu, a friend of the family.
Sultan Hamonangan as Budi, the emotionally volatile young son of Faris and Ratna.
Along with Darius Sinathrya, the rest of the ensemble cast provide the film’s emotional backbone, particularly through their shared haunting portrayals.
Production
For this project, director Razka Robby Ertanto sought to pay homage to The Possession while temporally shifting its setting to Indonesia and infusing emotional storytelling. Adaptations to the script were made by Lele Laila, adding elements of folklore such as pocong and Indonesian shamanistic rites.
Shadows and mirrors paired with abrupt body movements build tension and suggest paranormal presence, while the shifting patterns of light and illumination combined with claustrophobic framing of spaces serve to express the character’s mental confinement. This is The Possession’s Indonesia Version cinematography by Yunus Pasolang.
Furthermore, the film’s sound design and musical score crafted by Mondo Gascaro Whispered voices, traditional instruments of Indonesia, and dissonant tones intertwine in a tapestry of spiritual tension create a sustained atmosphere of dread.
Editing by Febby Gozal and Sentot Sahid maintains a robust narrative spine that flows between psychological drama and horror without losing focus on key themes throughout the film.
Themes and Symbolism
Domestic Disintegration
At its core, Possession: Kerasukan revolves around the communication breakdown and a disintegration of bonds. Faris and Ratna’s marriage breakdown stems from both spiritual possession and emotional abandonment and personal isolation. The horror presents itself as a repression metaphor for marital rot and unaddressed trauma.
Possession as Metaphor
Ratna’s possession is more than literal. It symbolizes the suffocation of a woman silenced far too long. Her vessel turns into a war zone of supernatural and emotional forces that struggle for release. In this light, the film provides social commentary on the cultural silencing of feminine rage and grief.
Cultural Horror
This adaptation, unlike original Possession, that is rooted in European psychological horror, draws its terror from Indonesian folklore. The idea of a pocong, a spirit bound in its shroud, is culturally and spiritually horrifying to local audiences.
Reception
Critically, the reaction has been quite positive, especially with regard to the atmospheric direction and performances of the actors as well as the culturally relevant horror. Carissa Perusset has been praised for her haunting portrayal of a woman possessed, conveying fragility and ferocity in a deeply realistic manner.
Some critics noted that the pacing lags some in the middle act. In addition, the ambiguity of the ending may frustrate viewers who would prefer something more concrete. Regardless, the film was praised for its reinterpretation of a horror classic and its willingness to explore emotionally challenging themes.
Reception from audiences has also been positive. Viewers from Indonesia appreciated the authenticity of the spiritual components, while international audiences appreciated the psychological elements and visual tension. The film initiated critical conversations regarding mental health, trauma, and belief systems in contemporary Indonesia.
Conclusion
Possession: Kerasukan is a spine chilling horror film that incorporates the deeply rooted spiritual horror of Indonesian culture within the context of a family’s psychological breakdown. It adapts a cult classic with a trace of local context, making the adaptation relevant and thought provoking, as well as deeply disturbing.
The film goes beyond mere jump scares to provide a glimpse at the unsettling themes of love, pain, and dark forces—within and beyond the human psyche. It’s a relatively new film of 2024, but already recognizes for its cultural specificity, strong performances, and eerie visuals. Whether you enjoy supernatural horrors or cerebral thrillers, 2024’s Possession: Kerasukan is without a doubt one of the most unsettling and ambitious horror films of the year.
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